Gavaskar pinpoints flaw in Tendulkar's batting

Sachin Tendulkar has become more vulnerable to falling leg before because of a technical flaw that has crept into his batting, according to Sunil Gavaskar.

India's leading batsman has been dismissed lbw four times in five innings in the current Test series in West Indies and failed to reach double figures in his side's 10-wicket defeat in the third Barbados Test on Sunday.

"Tendulkar was trapped leg before wicket...what is of concern is that he is playing across the line so much," former India skipper Gavaskar wrote in a column.

"He is moving back and across, something he rarely does. By doing that, he is opening his right shoulder a bit and that is bringing his bat down at an angle unlike the impeccably straight way it usually comes down.

"This is only a slight movement but it is making him play across the line and getting hit on the pads.

"Once he stays still and moves only after the ball is delivered, it will be alright."

Tendulkar, widely regarded as the world's best batman, hit his 29th Test hundred -- five less than Gavaskar's world record -- to lift India to their first victory in the second Trinidad Test, their first in the Caribbean for 26 years.

But he was out for a duck in the second innings of the Trinidad game before falling cheaply in Barbados both times as West Indies bounced back to level the five-match series.

Mail Cricket Editor